"Indicative of a time when the punk rock DIY spirit was in decline, N.O.U breathed life into an otherwise dead genre. Pulling from various gospel influences (if not musically, then in tone and intention), 13-Point Program was a wake up call to get off your ass and do something. Self referencing high school dilemmas and the realities of being a kid (exemplified in 'A Kid Who Tells On Another Kid Is A Dead Kid' and 'Today I Met The Girl I'm Going To Marry'), the youthfullness of N.O.U comes through with such passion that you almost want to relive the torture of high school all over again."
N.O.U. redefines DC punk
kuniklo | 02/15/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Instead of going the predictable route with yet another gloomy emo retread, DC's Nation of Ulysses instead put together a volitile mixture of gospel, jazz, and punk. The result is startling and frenetic, unlike anything before them. Combine the music with the surreal and cryptic propaganda in the liner notes, and you have the classic that is their first album."
The Nation will put you under its spell
kuniklo | 08/18/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"These youths came crashing out of the Fugazi dominated DC punk scene unexpected and overwhelming. Ian Svenonious delivery of a mysterious propogando laden youth gospel is at times screamed then whispered into the ear. The band takes its hardcore energy and channels it into a jazz structure leaving the whole mess busting at the seams with intensity that if not prepared can be off putting. All together one of the most compelling albums of the decade and the premiere of a new voice that can still be heard preaching over the hot rodded soul of the Make-up."
Illegal drugs: a murderous commerce shared by the Govt.
Kevin Parrish Claussen | Seattle, WA United States | 11/23/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The propaganda of The Futurists movement was a big influence on their liner notes and lyrics and album packaging. They looked like G.I. Joe dolls or gang kids from West Side story during this phase of their career. The cover has the band standing in front of a clever collage of kung fu kids, race horses, and some dame getting dolled up. They wrote songs about over the counter household drugs and The Peoples Republic Army of the Philipinnes.They had an incredible concept and wrote dynamic songs with the most original lyrical content of their day. They made you want to dress like Jack Lord and be plotting to blow up something institutional.The title of this album insures that their records will never be sold at Best Buy or Walmart alongside label mates Fugazi's cd's. I almost expect it to get banned these days."